Euro Travel & More

Some girlfriends of mine from the West are planning a trip back home – they called it the Eat Your Way Through Asia Trip – From Hong Kong to Singapore – then to Malaysia and finally to Bangkok – yes ! all shopping and eating paradise.   They said they were going to try everything they see and even durian – the King Of Fruits and fried cockroaches – hehe!!  that I’ll have to see to believe.  The durian ain’t too bad – but nope I won’t try the cockroaches – if i were them.  But of course – there are so many things to eat and see in Asia – I don’t even know where to begin to be honest.  So I recommended a few things – for the MUST tries and also told them to get some best diet supplements when they get home from their holiday.  Why? because I put on 10Kg every time i go back home.  So here are the few I recommended, let me know if you have any suggestions too.

Crab in Yellow Curry at Harmonique – in Bangkok

Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore

Roasted pigeon in Hong Kong – Yung Kee

Grilled stingray in Malaysia.

These are only a few of the must try – so please eat more stuff while you are in Asia – Asia is definitely a food paradize.

Vacationing in Cancun, Mexico one year – we decided to visit Xcaret the eco park by the sea.  It was a huge park with many things you can see – like a zoo – but more than that.  It has an underground river, a Butterfly Pavillion – a beach and many water activities.  You can even swim with the dolphins if you like – go snorkeling and Sea Trek.

Flamingos

A close up of a parrot after a parrot show.

Fishes on the wall.

A goat?

The very shy trainer with the parrot.

Entrance to Xcaret Plus

Baboons? or Monkeys?

Voladores de Papantla, Veracruz – where they played music around the pole and then the guys would twirl around the pole during the time the music was playing.

swinging in action – kinda dangerous – but they made it seems so easy.

Tortoise in the sand

Very beautiful scenery all around the park.

clear water for swimming

Drinks you can buy to quench your thirst in the park

I wished we had more time – but we spend 6 hrs in the park – and we didn’t finished doing everything – maybe the next time.

On the way for some live entertainment – some sexy looking man – hahah!

Entrance to the theatre – for live entertainment

Native man – a bit eerie not?  More on the live show in another post.

The cousins just came back from a Royal Caribbean cruise and I had just seen some pictures they took  – boy! am i envious!  i so missed going on cruise vacations.  Not only do you get to stop by at several ports – you also get to have your entire holiday on this huge cruise ship just doing everything or nothing if you choose not to.

Cruise vacations are usually 6 days – 8 days depending on the destination/s – and like the one that the cousins took – they took care of the travel insurance for them – now that’s a bonus.  Some people said they don’t wanna go on a cruise because they are confined on the ship – but that’s not true – in the ship itself – it’s like having the entire city 24hrs a day.  You get to swim, eat – watch a show – suntan and drink all the juices and cocktails that you want – plus drop at different ports – and shop till you drop.  Plus like the cousins – they booked their cruise when there was a huge discount – pretty awesome – a holiday without spending so much – plus the entire family with kids went along – the kids got to do lots on the ship too.  After looking at the pictures – i am also tempted to book one now.

I haven’t been back home for 10 yrs and every now and then – i get pictures from family and friends of the recent changes in Singapore to entice me to go home for a holiday.  I so wanna go – but because of our business – and no extra help or trustworthy ones – we have no choice but to stay put for now.  I hope in the later years to come – i can go home for a long visit.

This is the famous durian building – hahah!  actually it’s not called that – it is actually the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.  Some 30 years ago – the Esplanade didn’t look like that – and about 10 yrs ago – when i was leaving for Canada – they started building this.   600 million SGD it cost and it was completed in 2002 – i never had a chance to visit the new Esplanade yet – but you can be sure i would when i visit home.

The Merlion hasn’t changed much – still same looking but it seems like there are more building in the central business district now.    But there is more in Singapore – to tell you about – tell you about the awesome food next!  look forward to it – because like Hong Kong – we have yummy food home!

Anzio, is a small historical picturesque fishing village on the coast of Lazio region in Italy.  Very near to Rome – therefore – we decided to come here for the weekend – just because we wanted something different and to visit friends from Anzio.

Anzio is well known as a fishing port – reminds me a bit of Plymouth, UK.  The city is full of historical value because during WWI it was a crucial landing place.

During the summer – this little fishing port is a very busy place as you can see here.

This is Anzio, ” Riviera di Roma”

The Pantheon – is a must picture to be taken – when in Italy.

It was a hot summer at 39 degrees !

The famous Spanish Steps

Piazza Venezia

enjoy the architectural of buildings all over italy.

The famous Fontana Di Trevi – don’t forget to throw a coin and make a wish.

Buy a souvenir from this famous wooden store where everything is hand-crafted and made with wood.

I found an old picture of Union Station in Toronto – while doing some  green shopping and realised that it was about time I make another trip to Toronto soon.  It had been many years since I had been in Toronto – so I’m looking forward to see the Union Station next year when I am there for a girlfriend’s wedding.

Union Station in Toronto -brings back lots of memories of my Europe tour – the history of Union Station is definitely a must to know and if you have been to Union Station – you will see what a magnificent building it is.  You can also check out the Union Station Tour which is a monthly basis thing and it starts like at 11am – i found it pretty interesting and you get to go to places where the public can’t go.

We were recommended to visit the Toronto Railway Heritage Center after our tour – which was opened to public earlier this year.  You also get a mini railway ride  – very interesting.   So there – I will have to bring my kid to Union Station next year when we are in Toronto – in the meantime – I will continue with my green shopping – all because it saves time, saves money and I’m saving the world.  Did you know that when you shop online – you consume less energy thus reducing carbon dioxide?  So yes ! while i’m stuck in some town Canada – i shall save the earth and then when i’m traveling I will be doing my “real” shopping.

Whether you are a long-staying guest or a just staying in a hotel for one night – it is important that you get proper rest right?  We all know that hotels are not cheap to stay in and unless you are on company’s account – you have to fork out a good few hundred dollars sometimes for a night’s rest in a hotel.

Some people like to choose a newer hotel to stay in – not because they want to try out a new hotel but more so – because their mattresses are usually are in better condition.  So what happens if you chose an older hotel to stay in and found that the bed is not as comfy as you would like it to be?   Now the trick is this – when you make a hotel reservation – make sure you let them know what kind of bed you want – you don’t know how important this is – till you have slept on a bed that gives you a sore back or even a unrestful night.  You also need to let the hotel know that you will have a long flight ahead or driving a long time – the next day – so that when you don’t get the bed you want – you can take it up with them. So there you have it – yes – most importantly is the mattress that one sleeps in – i’ve had so many experiences – with hotels that had such bad beds – and they think nothing of it.  I will never make the same mistake again.

Shopping and eating in Asia is a really fascinating experience – but one place you can never get enough of is Hong Kong – the Pearl of the Orient.  I’ve been to Hong Kong so many times – and I still can’t get enough of Hong Kong.  Every year that i visit – there seems to be something new to see, shop and eat.

From Langham Shopping Center in Mongkok to Hot Pot in Tsim Tsai Tsui.

Make sure you try some Herbal Jelly while you are at Causeway Bay – Honey Moon Dessert

And while you are there – try the mango sticky rice roll at Lucky Dessert too.

Yes – the famous Causeway Bay at night – full of cabbies on your right.   I have so many food and places to share with you all – but that will be in another post.  Don’t forget to come back.

While I go to Farmer’s Market as often as I can while traveling for the food – I also loved the ones in Australia – Sydney best because of all the trinkets you can buy.  But yard sales are fun too because you can get things you need for really cheap – I found all sorts of stuff that I want from both the Farmers market as well as the yard sales nearby.  As much as I enjoyed the organic and home made stuff – i love hand made jeweleries and hand made bags & shoes too. I used to buy Beading Tools online but also found some lovely handmade stuff  online as well but it’s nice to be able to try it first before buying them.

These are lovely right?  yes great presents to bring back for the kids – your nieces and friend’s daughters.  I found some gems to bring home – because you can’t bring that much jam home can you and fly home with you – too heavy.

Another pretty store in a yard sale in Australia.

More food – and home bake stuff

Fresh bread – organic anyone?